When it comes to mothers and their newborns the presence of certain nutrients can make a huge difference in how your baby grows and develops and also has a health effect on the mother as well. While calcium and folic acid are the ones most mothers are aware of, DHA (docosahexanoic acid) is the one that sometimes gets left on the back burner. DHA plays a major role during pregnancy and is essential for all healthy moms and babies.

Adults know DHA as a type of omega-3 fatty acid, which is mainly found in oily fish like salmon, tuna, herring and halibut. However, this important nutrient should also be a part of the expectant mother’s life. The presence of DHA in the body is crucial for aiding in your baby’s visual and mental development. During pregnancy, expectant mothers should do their best to make sure they get their daily dose of DHA. Doing so is vital for making sure that enough of this omega-3 fatty acid makes its way to your baby via the placenta. The only way for your growing baby to receive this nutrient is by you consuming it - babies cannot produce DHA on their own in enough quantities to ensure proper growth and development so it’s your job as Mom to see to it that your baby gets his/her fill. But the role of DHA doesn’t stop with pregnancy. After giving birth, you’ll still need to supply your newborn with this nutrient as well. Luckily, DHA can be found in many baby formulas and in breast milk.

The reason DHA is so important for growing babies is the fact that it helps greatly in making sure your newborn has proper development and function of the heart, eyes, brain and central nervous system, as well as ensuring that your baby’s nerve signal transmission is at its best. In mothers, DHA can help with mental health and ward off cardiovascular disease (stroke, high cholesterol, heart attack, etc) and can even help fight the signs of depression, as well as lower the risk of developing diabetes.

In order for you to provide your little one with enough DHA, doctors recommend pregnant and nursing women consume a minimum of 200mg a day. Because omega-3s are naturally found in fish, most mothers would expect to include more fatty and oily fish into their daily diet, however, there is a risk for women in this category due to possible mercury contamination. The good news is there are plenty of other, safer food items that are natural sources for DHA such as dairy products and certain veggies. Be sure to talk to your doctor about what food choices you can make to ensure that both you and your baby get the right amount of DHA daily.

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